How to Fly a Spinnaker (Beginners Guide)

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How to fly a spinnaker (Beginners guide)

Choosing to fly a spinnaker on your sailboat is the best way to sail off the wind during your trip—but can be a bit complicated to the beginner. When you’re just starting out sailing, it’s important to know all the different terms and ways to improve your experience, including how to raise and fly a spinnaker sail.

How to Fly a Spinnaker:

After prepping your sail, run the guy through the ends of the pole with its jaws up, clipping it to the tack. Attach the sheet to the leeward quarter’s block and clip it to the corner of the sail.
Attach the topping lift to the bridle where it holds up the pole when the sail is hoisted.
Attach the halyard to the head of the spinnaker.
Keeping the pole perpendicular to the mast, hoist the spinnaker as fast as possible while making sure it does not twist.
Trim the sail when it fills with wind.

But what is a spinnaker, and what does it do for a sailboat? What are the terms you should know before you attempt to fly your spinnaker? Read on to find out more.

What is a spinnaker?

A spinnaker is a type of sail that is designed for sailing off the wind—when the wind is 90 to 180 degrees off the bow. The spinnaker will fill with air and balloons out in front of the boat when it is used, which is called flying.

There are two types of spinnakers—symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical spinnakers are nearly hemispherical in nature, constructed in a way to have the maximum amount of lift. Asymmetrical spinnakers generate their lift from the side, rather than the top of a symmetrical spinnaker. Cruising boats almost always use asymmetrical spinnakers, while a racing boat could have either.

Spinnakers are usually made out of lightweight fabric like nylon. Some are shaped purposely to a specific wind angle by the way the panels are constructed or how the fabric is seamed.

The sail is sometimes also called a kite or a chute, although it should not be confused with the spinnaker chute, which is a type of hull where the sail can be launched.

Parts of a Spinnaker

Before you head out into the water and use your spinnaker, it’s important to note what kind of equipment you’ll be using. Spinnakers will use a sheet or a line to control the movable corners of the sail, and a guy, a line to control the end of the support pole, to move the lower corners.

The guy will be windward, and it is stabilized by the spinnaker pole, while the sheet will be downwind. That rope attaches to the side of the sail and controls the shape.

You will also hear or read the terms “leeward” or “windward”—leeward is the side of the ship sheltered from the wind, while windward is the direction in which the wind is coming.

Often, the bag that your spinnaker will be housed in is called a turtle, based on its shape and appearance.

How to Hoist and Set the Spinnaker

When you know all the parts of your spinnaker sail, the first thing you have to do is hoist your spinnaker properly. All lines should run outside of the sails.

Attach your turtle to your boat so it does not move as you unload your spinnaker.
Accordion fold the spinnaker as you pull it out of its bag to prevent twisting. Hold the upper edge of the sail with one hand, using the other to fold it inside and out. Grab those folds with the hand holding the upper edge, then do it with the other side. Hold both the sail and two corners as you place it into its bag.
On your boat, run the guy and sheet completely, leading them into the cockpit on the side of which you plan to fly the spinnaker.
Run the guy through the ends of the pole with its jaws up. It should be clipped to the tack of the spinnaker.
The sheet goes through the leeward quarter’s block and is clipped to the clew, or the corner, of the sail.
Attach the topping lift to the bridle where it holds up the pole when the sail is hoisted.
Making sure the pole is on the windward side, prepare to hoist the spinnaker on the leeward side, keeping the pole all the way forward and at a right angle to the mast.
Connect the halyard, or hoisting rope, to the head of the spinnaker, keeping the jib up while you hoist.
When you hoist, make sure the spinnaker doesn’t twist. Hoist it as fast as possible so when it fills with wind, it is completely raised.
After it is raised, watch the leading edge, or the luff, of the sail. When it curls, pull in the sail until it is smooth and curved.

Furling mainsail versus standard. Find out which is better here.

How to Jibe—or Move— Your Spinnaker

Now that you have the sail out and flying, follow these steps to move your spinnaker when the boat turns.

Manage both the sheet and guy, keeping the sail full as the boat turns.
Staying behind the pole, release the jaws as the boat turns.
While the sail remains full, attach the pole to the new corner of the sail.
Secure the ropes tightly as it is brought back perpendicular to the masthead fly.
Trim your sail as needed.

Follow the same steps in the opposite direction to bring your spinnaker back in the opposite direction.

How to Drop Your Spinnaker

When your trip is done, follow these steps to pull down your spinnaker sail.

Turn the boat into a safe, broad reach and reset the headsail.
Trimming the spinnaker when necessary, use the guy to position the pole to the forestay of the sail.
Hold it under the boom, releasing the guy as you lower the halyard.
Pull the sheet until you have a hold of the clew.
Continue dropping the sail as a crew member bundles it and replaces it in the turtle.

There are many more ways you can learn to work with your spinnaker but knowing the basics can help you get out onto the water and use your sail safely. Make sure to test out your newfound knowledge with a trusted, experienced professional before heading out on your own!